A REFERENDUM on the EU constitution would force eurosceptics to be held to account, says an East Lancashire Euro MP.

The Prime Minister is expected this week to announce this week his intention to put the constitution, which is to be finalised by EU states in June, to a public vote after it has been ratified by Parliament.

East Lancashire Liberal Democrat MEP, Chris Davies, says that a referendum will give Britain a chance to get rid of "lies and distortions" of the eurosceptics.

He said: "The time is long overdue for eurosceptics to be forced to explain how Britain is going to shape the policies of a single market including nearly 500m people without being a full member of the EU.

"They are going to have to tell us how we tackle the immense problems of the environment, of terrorism and organised crime, of immigration and asylum seekers, without developing common policies with our European partners."

Mr Davies said the constitution was far from perfect but said that in almost every respect it is an improvement on the existing treaties.

"It will improve decision making and make it more difficult for France and Spain to block overdue reforms.

"It will give Europe a stronger voice in a world dominated by George W Bush and it will strengthen the power of national parliaments to hold ministers to account about the decisions they take in Brussels."